Coin controlled mechanism



J 1931. M. BOHLIG 1,808,519

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed Aug. 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1) 54gw'nto'v Mari/n 50/; Hg

June 2, 1931. BQHLIG 1,808,519

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed Aug. 2, 1928 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mar f/n50/209 attain m5 Patented June 2, 1931 units STATES Parent BOHLIGNAB-NEE, 'OF ST. EAUL,.MINNESOTA COIN CONTRCLLED MECHANISM Applicationfiled. August 2, 1928. Serial-1%. 297,618..

My invention relates to improvements in coin controlled mechanismsdesigned particularly, though not exclusively, for vending devices ofthe character disclosed in my copending application Serial Number2%,132, from which this application has'been divided.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable andrelatively inexpensive mechanism of the instant nature for a devicewherein dual dispensers are operated by a' single actuator and causedalternately to vend boxes or hke packets. Another object of theinvention 1s to provide a mechanism of the present kind, whereby theassociated-vending device is normally locked against actuation, butfreed to function upon the application of the proper coin thereto.v

A further object is to supply a coin controlled mechanismincluding anactuating lever arranged to guard the coin slot in all except theextreme positions of theactuatin'g lever, wherein the slot is cleared toreceive a coin preparatory to the initiation of move said lever. V lViththe foregoing and other objects in view, which willappear in thefollowing description, the invention resides in the novel combinationand arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claiined.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 is a perspective i view of a vending machinefitted with my improved coin controlled mechanism; Fig. 2 is afragmentary elevational view of the coin controlled mechanism proper,the cover plate being shown in connection therewith; Fig.

3 is crosssectional view taken as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4: isa perspective View of the eoin mechanism proper as seen in invertedposition; Figs. 5 and 6 are bottom views of the coin mechanism proper, acoinof proper size. being shown in Fig. 5 and a coin of improper sizebeing shown in Fig. 6, and Fig. 7 is a detail perspectiveview of thedual coin embracing yoke.

Referring to the drawings, it will be observed that theillustratedvending machine includes a box-like base A and a tower like structure B,the box-like base being equipped plate 15 of the base A.

of the base Ais'fittedwith a: door (not shown) having a suitable lockfor holding the same closed. The tower-like structure B includes a sheetmetalbody stamped to form a pair of spaced magazinesor chutes 19. Thefront panels of the magazine have sight openings 25 MARTIN BOHLIG, OFST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASS IGNOR OF ONEJ-IALF TO E'AULINE with an upperframe-platell; Afront plate 13' at the rear thereof, said riser portionsbeing integral with a deck-plate 15. 'The'back stamped therein, thelower edges of said panels lying in the horizontal plane of the deck- Atthe bottom of each magazine ,19

combination vending device C each forming a box support and vend ngtray. These vending devicesare identical, each being formed from a stripof sheet metal bent to provide a base-plate 26, an elevated rest27'atthe rear of the device andan upright guard flange 28 at the front of thedevice. In the retracted position of a vending deviceC, the box rest 27isdisposed beneath the deck-plate 15, the

tray portion between said rest 27 and the front guard flange 28 beingthen sheathed within the magazine to. receive the lo-wermost box orpacket of the stack therein. The forwardprojection of said device fromsaid packet therefromd A lever 81'is pivoted to theupp'er frame-plate11, the forwardend of sai'd'leve'r overreachingthefront of thejbase Aand 'providing'a convenient handle 31 'f0r swinging the lever. Bymeansof connecting links (not shown) between lever 31 and ,the

vending device Qiwhichlinks'embody part of the subject matter of my saidc opending application,- the saiddevices C are caused alternately to beretracted and projected upon theflswinging of the lever '31 from side toside. Inthe extreme positions ofthe lever one vending device G isretracted and the r V other projected, while, in the intermediateposition of said lever, both devices are to be found in retractedposition. In other words,

- the first half stroke of the lever 31 in one direction retracts thepreviously projected vending device 0, whilethe lasthalf stroke of saidlever in the same direction projects the other vending device C. 7

Coin controlled latching, device D isassociated with the lever 31 toprevent the vending of packets from the machine except upon theapplication thereto of a coin of proper size.

This device proper comprises a cage formed of sheetmetal and consistingof opposed top flanges 31 and 32 from which depend forward and rearwalls 33 and 34, said walls being slightly spaced apart to form betweenthem 7 a coin slide open at top and bottom and extending transversely ofthelev'er 31 flanges 31 and 32 are seated within a depressionin upperframe-plate 11, the depending walls 33 and 34 occupying a slot formed insaid plate 11 (Fig. 3). The blank from which the cage is constructed isprovided with tie members 35 serving to join and relatively space thewalls 33 and 34 at their lower margins and is further provided with clipmemhere 36 issuing from the ends of wall 34 and, when bent over the endmargins of wall 33, as shown, serving also to tie and relatively spacesaid walls 33 and 34; A'dual coin emsaid lever 31. The fingers 38, 39,depending from said. block 38, extend into the way or ':slide betweenthe walls 33, 34 of the coin cage.

Reaching into the coin slide through an opening 42 in the rear wall 33ofthecage-are a plurality of spring pressed tumblers 43.

:The opening 42is 'formed by cutting away a'medial marginal portion ofwall 33 and by bending back portions ofsaid 'wall as at 44 and 45,portions 44"for'ming guide flanges for the extremetumblers43. Thesetumblers are pivoted on a common hinge-pin 46 mounted at i its ends inears 47 turned outwardly from wall 33. Each tumbler 43 includes a headportion 48 throughwhich the hinge-pin 46 extends and further includes abody portion 49, which normallyo ecupies position within the coinslotbetween the walls33 and 34, the forward edge ofthe body portion 49beingyieldingly held against the front wall 34 by the action of a spring 50interposed between the V flange 31 and the head portion 48 of thetumbler; Except for the extreme tumblers, the tumblers43 areidenticalfsaid extreme tumblers differing from the others in thatrespect best seen in Figs. 4, 5 and. 6, where,

it will be observed, inner marginal faces of gers '33, 39 are spacedapart so that one terminal finger 38 and the intermediate finger '39will embrace the extreme tumblers 43 in either of the extreme positionsof the lever 31.

A cover plate 51 superimposing theblock 37 has a slot 52 therein inwhich the pin 40 on block 37 may play and is further provided with aslot 53 for coins. said coin slot 53, the cover plate constitutes a coinguide through which coins may be inserted into position between branchesof the traveler yoke d and between wall 34 on the one side and wall 33and tumblers 43 on the other side; This coin'guide, however, isunobstructed by the lever'31 only when said lever is in one of'itsextreme positions (Fig. 1). In either of such'positions of the lever 31,a proper coin insertedinto the coin slot 53 passes between the medialyoke finger 39 and one of the terminal fingers 38. Thus disposed thecoin engages and swings allot the tumblers 43 rearward (Fig. 5) and inso re- Thus formed with tractin said tumblers, causes the way'betweenthe walls 33, 34 to be cleared for the passage therealong of the yokefinger 39. As

the lever 31 is swung to actuate its associated mechanism, the tumblers43 progressively enter the coin slide "behind the intermediate yokefinger 39 and thereby lock said lever against reversal at various stepsin either operating throw thereof, In being pushed past the tumblers '43by the yoke finger39, a coinholds said tumblers retracted until they areprogressively overreachedby said fingel, the coin being finally thrustsidewise beyond the last tumblenwhence it falls from between the walls33, 34 of; the cage to the.

coin box therebeneath. WVhile the coinslot 53 in the cover plate 51 doesnot prevent the insertion into the. device of an undersized coin,it'does prevent the insertion of an oversized coin. If. an undersizedcoin is inserted throughthe coin slot 53, the extreme tumblers 43 areundisturbed by the entry of the small com (Fig. 6) and consequentlycontinue to secure the traveler yoke d immovable under any force thatmay be applied to the lever 31.

:By grinding down the inner margins of the or coins'or slugs departingin the slightest 'from the proper diameter. When itoc curs that" anundersized coin has been inserted through the coin slot 53, noharm orinconvenience'is experienced in respect to the device, since upon thenext insertion of a proper coin. the previously inserted and inefiectivecoin is thrust downwardly by the proper coin out'of the grasp of'thetumblers 43, when it falls into the coin receiver.

YVhile the grasping of a propercoin between the tumblers 43 and thefront wall 34 is ordinarily sufiicient to keep it from falling throughas the traveleryoke (Z is shifted to its limit of movement, I provide aprecautionary measure against tampering users, which con- 'sists inslightly turning or burnishing the edge of wall 34 toward the tumblers43 and therebv formln on said wall a flan e 54.

Thls 'aidsin guiding a. proper coin sidewise past the tumblers, withoutinterfering with the downward expulsion of an'undersized com. 7 p

ITO reinforce the wall 33 where it is weak- 'ened in formingthe' opening42 to receive the bodies 49 of the tumblers 43, I employ 'tw'o U shapedstrengthening clips 55, which.

embrace the walls 33 and 34, the latter at positions adjacent to saidopening 42. To accommodate the clips '55 in releasing coins from thebottom of the'coin slide, 1 cut away the corners oft-he fingers 38, asat 59, whereby the coins may rollfrom said clips free of said fingers38.

My improved coin control device is advantageous because of'itsefficiency, snnplic- 'ity anddurability. It isparticularly, though notexclusively, adapted for use in connection with vending machines and thelike embodymg a reversible actuator operating upon each throw to actuateits associated mechanism.

claim new and desire to protect by Letters Patent-is: 1; The combinationWltll reversible actuatorfor operating an'associated device upon eitherstroke'of the actuator, of a coin controlled mechanism for said actuatorincluding a'cage embodying two'spaced walls forming a'coin slide, groupof tumblers hinged to the-cage, the bodies thereof being adapted toswingii-nto and out of the com slide, each tumbler having individualmeans for yieldingly holding the same with the body thereof in positionwithin the coin slide, a dual coin embracing yoke connected with said.actuator and-comprising two end fingers and an intermediate finger, allmovable in said slide, the intermediate finger and one end finger beingadapted closely to embrace the group of tumbler bodies within the coinslide, a guide for directing a tumbler retracting coin into the coinslide between the tumblers and the opposing wall, said tumblers, whenretracted by a coin overreaching the group thereof, offering noobstruction to the intermediate finger, but acting progressively toenter behind said finger within the coin slide.

2. The combination with a reversible actuator for operating anassociated device upon either stroke of the actuator, of a coincontrolled mechanism forsa-id actuator including a cage embodying spacedfront and rear walls forming a coin slide, therearwall having a marginalopening therein, a group of tumblershinged to the cage, the bodiesthereof being adapted to swing into and out of the coin slide throughsaid opening, each tumblerhaving individual means for yieldingly holdingthe same with the bodythereof in position within the coin slide, thebodies of the extreme tumblers being cut away at their inner faces, aduel coin embracing yoke connected with said actuator and comprising tWoend fingers and an intermediate finger, all movable in said slide,theintermediate finger and one end finger being adapted closely toembrace the group of tumbler bodies within the coin slide, a guide fordirecting a tumbler retracting coin into the coin slide between thetumblers and the front wall, said tumblers when retracted by a coinoverreaching the group thereof, offering no obstruction to theintermediatev finger,-but acting progressively to reenter the coin slidebehind said finger. V V

3. The combination with a reversible actuator for operating anassociated device upon either stroke of the actuator, of a coincontrolled mechanism for said actuator including a cage embodying spacedfront and rear walls forming a coin slide, the rear wall having amarginal. opening therein, a group of tumblers hinged to the cage, thebodies. there- Of being adapted to swing into andout of the coin slide.through said opening, each tumbler having individual means foryieldingly holding the same with the body thereof in position within thecoin slide, the'bodies of the extreme tumblers being cut away at theirinner. faces, a dual coin embracing yoke connected with said actuatorand. comprising two end fingers and an intermediatefinger,

all movable in said slide, the intermediate finger and one end fingerbeing adapted, closely to embrace the group of tumbler bodies within thecoin slide, a guide for directing a tumbler retracting coin into thecoin slide between thetumblers and the front wall, the lower edge ofsaid'front wall opposite the tumblers having a flange thereon turned inthe direction of said tumblers, said tumblers, when retracted by a coin,overreaching the group thereof, offering no obstruction to theintermediate finger, but acting progressively to reenter the'coin slidebehind said finger.

4. Armin controlledmechanism for a re-' versible actuator including acage forming a coin slide, tumbler means'adapted to swing into and outof the coin-slide, said means being yieldingly heldin position withinthe coin slide, a dual coin embracing yoke adapted to be connected withsaid actuator and comprising two end fingers and an intermediate finger,all movable inv said slide, the

intermediate finger and one-end finger being adapted closely to embracethe extremities of said tumbler means within the coin slide, a guide fordirecting a tumbler, retracting coin into the 'coin slide, the; yokebeing movablelin said slide in the presence of suchcoin.

5. A coin controlled mechanism for a reversible actuator including acage forming a coin slide open along the-bottom thereof, a group oftumblers carried by the cage and individually normally projecting intothe coin slide, atraveler adapted to be connected with the actuator andhaving a finger movablein said slide,said tumblers being adapted to beshifted and held out of the path of said finger by means of anappropriate coin inserted in the coin slide, said tumblers actingprogressively toreenter the path of said finger behind the same.

6. The combination with an actuating lever of a coin controlledmechanism therefor, said mechanism including a coin slide,a coinembracing yoke attached to said lever, the branches of said yokebeing'movable in said slide, a guide for directing a coin into saidslide and between said branches, tumblers associated with the slideandadapted to be held retracted by a coin introduced through said guide,said tumblers acting to obstruct the movement of said yoke in theabsence of a coin to retract said tumblers and to permit only ofaprogressive movement of said yoke in the presence of a tumblerretracting coin. 7. The combination with a reversible lever foractuating an associated device upon one throw thereof in eitherdirection, of a coin controlled mechanism for said lever, the sameincluding a coin slide, a dual coin embracing yoke attached to saidlever and comprising two end fingers and an intermediate finger, allmovable in said slide, a guide for direct- I ing a coin into saic slide,tumblers associated with the coin slide, all adapted to be retractedby aproper coin introduced through said guide,said tumblers servingprogressively to obstruct the intermediate finger of said yoke bevretracted by the coin .upon its insertion '1 into the slide, the fingerbeing movable only to push the coin past the tumblers held retracted bythe coin. V

10. A coin controlled mechanism comprising a'coin slide formed for theinsertion a?" thereinto of a coin, tumblers normally projecting into thecoin slide, a traveler having a finger disposed inrsaid slide, some orall of the tumblers, according to the character of the coin used, beingadapted to be retracted by the coin upon its insertion into the slide,the finger being movable in one direction to push and follow the coinpast those tumblers held'retracted by the coin, said re-projectedintothe slide at the rear of said linger and thus progressively block themovement of the finger in the reverse direction.

11. A coin controlled mechanism for an actumblers being adapted to.be'progressivelyill tuating device including a cage forming M9 coinslide, a multiplicity of tumblers arranged side byside inanassemblylengthwise offthe coin slide and individually-normallyprojecting intosaid slide, a traveler associated with the actuatingdevice and hav- 5 0 ing afinger .projectingninto and movable along thecoin slide, said tumblers, or some of them,- by the contact therewith ofa coin inserted into the slide, being adapted to be retracted and heldout of the path of the finger, said finger being movable endwise ofthetumbler assembly in a direction in which all of the advance tumblers arewithheld from its path, saidtumbler's being adapted progressively tore-assume positions With in the slide at the rear of the moving finger,thus preventing the movement of said'finger in a reverse direction. i

In testimony whereof I have'signed my name to this specification.

MARTIN BQH-LIG.

the coin slide, tumblers projecting into the coin slide, said slidebeing formed at one edge for the edgewise insertion thereinto of a coinand at the opposite edge 'forthe expulsion of such coin, all of thetumblers being adapted to be retracted and held clear of the way of theprogressing finger by a coin of proper character, those of the tumblersnot held retracted by the coin, if of improper character, servingthrough said coin toobstruct the movement of said finger.

9. A coin controlled mechanism compris-

